The Vital Importance of Prayer

THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

IN CHURCH PLANTING AND EVANGELISM

LECTURE NOTES BY GEOFFREY STONIER

OUTLINE

An outline of my two talks is very simple. It covers three areas, all involving prayer:

(1)The experience of the Church in the first century.

(2) The expanding churches during and since the Reformation.

(3) Prayer and times of Revival

PRAYER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

“John Bunyan. Pilgrim in the Interpreter’s House.

Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it, to extinguish and put it out, is the devil: but in that you see the fire, notwithstanding, burn higher and hotter, you shall also see the reason for that. So he had him about to the back side of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which he did also continually cast (but secretly) into the fire.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually, with the oil of his grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart; by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. 2 Cor. 12:9 — “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

And in that you saw that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach you that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.”

Not only about the work of grace in the soul, but is particularly applicable to a life of prayer, which the devil is intent on destroying. The Holy Spirit secretly fuels that fire in many different ways.”

See Romans 8:15-16; 26-28:

15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is themind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

How to pray,as in the Acts.

Evangelism came out of the grief, persecution, and great suffering of the Jerusalem church.

Before Pentecost: 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

After Pentecost: 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

The disciplining of the new converts

Acts 3:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The ministry of the leaders included prayer and exposition of the word

4:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The reaction of the church to a ban by the authorities involved prayer

4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

And what a prayer! And what a result!

24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Prayer meetings also included those with little faith(6:5-15)

Acts 6:5 “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.9 And he went out, and followed him; and knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.”

2. Prayer during and particularly after the Reformation

Preachers and prayer

E. M. Bounds (The Preacher and Prayer) —

“The preacher's sharpest and strongest preaching should be to himself. His most difficult, delicate, laborious, and thorough work must be with himself. The training of the twelve was the great, difficult, and enduring work of Christ. Preachers are not sermon makers, but men makers and saint makers, and he only is well-trained for this business who has made himself a man and a saint. It is not great talents nor great learning nor great preachers that God needs, but men great in holiness, great in faith, great in love, great in fidelity, great for God — men always preaching by holy sermons in the pulpit, by holy lives out of it. These can mould a generation for God.

“After this order, the early Christians were formed. Men they were of solid mould, preachers after the heavenly type-heroic, stalwart, soldierly, saintly. Preaching with them meant self-denying, self-crucifying, serious, toilsome, martyr business. They applied themselves to it in a way that told on their generation, and formed in its womb a generation yet unborn for God. The preaching man is to be the praying man. An almighty force in itself, it gives life and force to all. The real sermon is made in the closet. The man — God's man— is made in the closet. His life and his profoundest conviction were born in his secret communion with God. The burdened and tearful agony of his spirit, his weightiest and sweetest messages were got when alone with God. Prayer makes the man; prayer makes the preacher; prayer makes the pastor.

The pulpit of this day is weak in praying. The pride of learning is against the dependent humility of prayer. Prayer is with the pulpit too often only official — a performance for the routine of service. Prayer is not to the modern pulpit the mighty force it was in Paul's life or Paul's ministry. Every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is weak as a factor in God's work and is powerless to project God's cause in this world.”

(a) The Reformation (16th Century)

John Calvin

“The answer to our prayer is secured by the fact that in rejecting them, God would in a certain sense deny his own nature.”

“There is nothing meritorious in our prayers … whenever God hears them, it is in exercise if his free goodness.”

“Doubtful prayer is no prayer at all.”

“Prayer is the chief exercise of faith.

“Prayer flows from doctrine.”

Martin Luther

“To pray well is the better half of study.”

“What God sovereignly decrees in eternity, men will always demand in time.” Anon.

(b) Post-reformation (Puritans)

“God can pick sense out of a confused prayer.” (Richard Sibbes)

“There must be fired affections [feelings, emotions] before our prayer will go up.” (William Jenkyn)

God never denied anything that soul anything that went as far as heaven to ask it. (John Trapp)

“Private prayer consciously performed is the secret key to heaven.” (Thomas Brooks)

“Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan.” (John Bunyan)]

“The prayer that is faithless is fruitless.” (Thomas Watson)

(c) The Great Awakening (18th Century)

“Thou art coming to a King;

Large petitions with thee bring;

For his grace and power are such,

None can ever ask too much.”

(John Newton)

“No heart thrives without much secret converse with God, and nothing will make amends for the lack of it.” (John Berridge)

“We read of preaching the word out of season, but we do not read of praying out of season, for that is never out of season.” (Matthew Henry)

“God’s promises are to be our pleas in prayer.” (Matthew Henry)

(d) Victorian Revival (19th Century)

“Do not reckon you have prayed until you have pleaded, for pleading is the very marrow of prayer.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

“A prayer which only contains thanksgiving and profession, and asks nothing, is essentially defective, It may be suitable for an angel, but it is not suitable for a sinner.” (Bishop John Charles Ryle)

“Prayer is good, but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but a blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism.” (Charles Thomas Studd.)

“Prayer is the breath of faith. Prayer meetings are the lungs of the church.” (C. H. Spurgeon)

“Prayer is a serious thing. We may be taken at our word.” (Dwight Lyman Moody)

“Do not work so hard for Christ that you have no strength to pray, for prayer requires strength.” (James Hudson Taylor)

The prime need of the church is not men of money, nor men of brains, but men of prayer.” (E. M. Bounds)

(e) 20th Century

“One cannot get deep into religion until one gets deep into prayer.” (W. E. Sangster)

“Men of God are always men of prayer.” (Henry T. Mahan)

“Everything we do in the Christian life is easier than prayer.” (Dr. David Martyn Lloyd- Jones)

3. prayer in times of revival

E. M. Bounds (The Power of Prayer)

“All the true revivals have been born in prayer. When God’s people become so concerned about the state of religion that they lie on their faces day and night in earnest supplication, the blessing will be sure to fail.”

It is the same all down the ages. Every revival of which we have any record has been bathed in prayer. Take, for example, the wonderful revival in Shotts (Scotland) in 1630. The fact that several of the then persecuted ministers would take a part in solemn convocation having become generally known, a vast concourse of godly persons assembled on this occasion from all quarters of the country, and several days were spent in social prayer, preparatory to the service. In the evening, instead of retiring to rest, the multitude divided themselves into little bands and spent the whole night in supplication and praise. The Monday was consecrated to thanksgiving, a practice not then common, and proved the great days of the feast. After much entreaty, John Livingston, chaplain to the Countess of Wigtown, a young man and not ordained, agreed to preach. He had spent the night in prayer and conference — but as the hour of assembling approached his heart quailed at the thought of addressing so many aged and experienced saints, and he actually fled from the duty he had undertaken. But just as the Kirk of Shotts was vanishing from his view, those words, “Was I ever a

barren wilderness or a land of darkness?” were borne in upon his mind with such force as compelled him to return to the work.

He took for his text Ezekiel 36:25-26, and discoursed with great power for about two hours. Five hundred conversions were believed to have occurred under that one sermon, thus prefaced by prayer. “It was the sowing of a seed through Clydesdale, so that many of the most eminent Christians of that country could date their conversion, or some remarkable confirmation of their case, from that day.”

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